Sinton's Blake Mitchell leads the 2023 Caller-Times All-South Texas Baseball Team
The 2023 baseball season ended with a little bit of disappointment for the Coastal Bend as London and Sinton could not defend their state championships, but it ended a season where the area again continued to show its passion and talent for the game.
London and Sinton navigated the Region IV waters in their respective classes to earn those state tournament spots as both were making their third consecutive appearances. Along with those two qualifiers there were multiple big-time performances throughout the season, and this year's All-South Texas Baseball team will honor the area's top players.
Here is a look at the 2023 All-South Texas Baseball Team
2023 All-South Texas Baseball Team
Most Valuable Player
Blake Mitchell, sr., Sinton
In a little over a week, Mitchell will likely have his name called during the first day of the MLB Draft and there is good reason. Through three seasons at Sinton (his freshman season was truncated by COVID) he has continued to show why professional scouts have been making trips to Sinton to find out more about the multi-talented player. And even with all those eyes on him, Mitchell produced all season long for the Pirates, providing leadership behind the plate, clutch hitting and giving a glimpse of his pitching prowess for a team making its third consecutive state tournament appearance. Statistically, Mitchell hit .457 with 15 doubles, six home runs, 42 RBI, 48 runs, stole 41 bases and walked 61 times, while striking out nine times. He also had 21 strikeouts in 10.1 innings on the mound.
Newcomer of the Year
Drayson Gamez, fr., Calallen
Long-time Wildcat coach Steve Chapman did not waste time in putting Gamez in a key position on the field and in the batting order during his first season playing in high school. And the move paid off. Gamez hit leadoff and played shortstop for the Wildcats, who finished tied for the district title in 31-4A and advanced to the area round of the playoffs. The freshman hit .373 on the season, third best on the team, with four doubles, 32 runs and 20 RBI this season. He also stole a team-best 11 bases and had a .943 fielding percentage.
Coach of the Year
Elias Vasquez, Robstown
Vasquez, a Robstown native, helped to lead one of the best seasons for the Cotton Pickers in a number of years. Robstown shared the District 31-4A crown with rival Calallen, and in the process beat the Wildcats twice during the regular season, the first time that has happened since 2006. Then during the postseason, the Pickers, who finished the season 23-13-1, advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2018, falling to regional power Boerne.
First Team
Infielder
Jack Bell, sr., Ray
Of note: Bell, a Texas A&M signee, was one of the area's most dangerous hitters and one of its best fielders. Bell hit .350, scored 51 runs, drove in 37 and of his 42 hits, 24 went for extra bases, including nine doubles, eight triples and seven home runs.
Damon Hernandez, jr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: The speedy Hernandez caused havoc on the base paths all season for the Eagles, stealing 53 bases, and also hit .431 with nine doubles, three triples, 20 RBI and scored 35 runs.
Easton Hewitt, sr., Carroll
Of note: Hewitt is one of the area's most talented infielders, hitting .359 with 10 doubles, four triples, 21 RBI, scored 42 runs and drew 40 walks in 36 games.
RJ Olivares, so., London
Of note: Olivares, a University of Houston commit, hit .446 this season with nine doubles, four triples, one home run, 28 RBI, scored 27 runs and stole 14 bases.
Roque Serrano, jr., Robstown
Of note: Serrano was one of the area's top two-way players, hitting .345 with 11 RBI, three doubles and two triples, and he was 5-1 as a pitcher with three saves and a 3.67 earned-run average.
Jacob Trevino, sr., King
Of note: The District 29-5A South Zone MVP hit .398 with five doubles, three triples, 23 RBI and 28 runs, and was 6-0 on the mound with a 0.72 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 48 innings.
Outfield
EJ Cantu, sr., Carroll
Of note: Cantu, who was the 29-5A South Zone Utility Player of the Year, hit .385 this season with 10 doubles, four triples and 23 RBI, and he was also 6-3 on the mound with a 2.27 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 55.1 innings.
Chris Chavez, sr., Carroll
Of note: Chavez, an Alvin Community College commit, hit .361 this season with nine doubles, six triples, 32 RBI and scored 35 runs and added 28 stolen bases.
Devan Phillips, sr., Rockport-Fulton
Of note: The versatile Phillies hit .415 this season to go with seven doubles, three triples, two home runs and 29 RBI.
Sean Philpotts, sr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: Philpotts was one of the area's top outfielders and also hit .380 with doubles, a triple and scored 20 runs.
Henry Sepulveda, jr., London
Of note: The District 30-3A Most Valuable Player hit .360 with 38 runs, 17 stolen bases, 14 RBI and was 3-0 as a pitcher with 29 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
Pitcher
Braeden Brown, sr., Sinton
Of note: Brown finished the season 12-0 as a pitcher with a 0.98 ERA along with 102 strikeouts in 78.1 innings and also hit .330 with eight doubles, three triples, 24 RBI and scored 18 runs.
Esai Gonzalez, sr., Robstown
Of note: Gonzalez was a steady presence for the Cotton Pickers this season as he was 8-5 as a pitching with a 2.57 earned-run average and tallied 87 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. He also hit .429 with nine doubles, a home run and had 29 RBI.
Keevyn Goss, sr., Ray
Of note: Goss, a Houston Christian signee, was one of the best pitchers in Region IV regardless of classificiation. He was 5-1 with 87 strikeouts in 62 innings and a 1.81 earned-run average. He also hit .398 with 20 runs and 31 RBI.
Blayne Lyne, jr., London
Of note: Lyne became the ace of the Pirates staff, compiling an 11-1 record with 99 strikeouts in 70 innings and a 0.80 earned-run average.
Josh Suarez, sr., Taft
Of note: The District 29-3A Co-MVP was stellar all season, recording a 7-3 record with 112 strikeouts and a 1.60 earned-run average for the district champion Greyhounds.
Catcher
Dae Palomo, jr,. Carroll
Of note: Palomo has been a steady presence for the Tigers behind the plate for three years, and he hit .360 this season with nine doubles and 32 RBI.
Utility
Jaquae Stewart, sr., Sinton
Of note: The Houston Christian signee completed another stellar season with a .363 batting average with seven doubles, five home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs and drew 59 walks. He was also 9-1 as a pitcher with a 1.11 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 63 innings.
Brian Buchanan, sr., Bishop
Of note: The multi-talented Buchanan was named the 31-4A MVP after hitting .386 with six doubles, three triples, 19 RBI and was 8-2 on the mound with one save, and had 87 strikeouts in 70.2 innings and a 0.59 ERA.
High School Baseball 2023 Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend All-District Baseball Teams
Second Team
Infield
Derek Chavera, so., Falfurrias; Ryan Galvan, sr., Alice; Jace Hernandez, jr., King; Alberto Puente, sr., Tuloso-Midway; Landon Salinas, jr., London; Lucas Tinajero, so., Ray
Outfield
Chase Lynch, so., Calallen; Josh Garcia, jr., Tuloso-Midway; Jacob Gonzales, jr., London; Kaden McCoy, sr., Sinton; Efrain Ozuna, sr., Taft; Nathan Reyes, sr., King; Eddie Sanchez, so., Gregory-Portland; Derek Silva, jr., Robstown;
Pitcher
Zakory Garcia, so., Veterans Memorial; Nate Herrera, sr., Banquete; Sean Howell, so., Rockport-Fulton; Aidan Moody, jr., Sinton; Drayton Mitchell, fr., Calallen; Jonathon Ovalle, sr., Robstown; Adin Ruiz, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Noah Turner, sr., Gregory-Portland
Catcher
Aiden Steele, sr., Bishop; Jake Colston, sr., Riviera
Utility
Blake Watters, so., London; Mark Lopez, sr., Orange Grove; Robert Inocencio, jr., Moody; Matt Lopez, jr., Calallen
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Third Team
Infield
Orlando Alvarado, jr., Taft; Bubby Campbell, sr., Veterans Memorial; Jordan Gibson, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Marco Gonzales, jr., Sinton; Isaac Perez, jr., Carroll; Jadiel Pito Soto, sr., Moody; Kash Wood, so., Sinton
Outfield
Aaron Flores, sr., Banquete; Nathan Gunn, sr., Aransas Pass; Davyn Perez, fr., Beeville; Ryan Rodriguez, sr., Ray; Jack Spenst, jr., Ray; Tress Vasquez, jr., Calallen
Pitcher
Hayden Brock, so., Calallen; Caleb Fruge, sr., George West; Drew Garcia, jr., King; Christian Martinez, sr., Ray; Rob Thomas, jr., Sinton; Christian Tijerina, sr., Flour Bluff; Derrick Villarreal, sr., Falfurrias
Catcher
Isaiah Elizondo, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Julian Gomez, sr., Odem; Dietrich Lopez, so., Banquete
Utility
Nick Flores, jr., Sinton; Davian Garcia, fr., Veterans Memorial; Dylan Holbein, sr., Hebbronville; Quentin Holmes, sr., George West; Cristian Marroquin, sr., Robstown; Kaden Strey, sr., Flour Bluff
Honorable mention
Pitcher — Ryan Carrillo, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; JD Gomez, fr., Banquete; Kyle Novak, sr., Rockport-Fulton; Ashton Quesada, jr., Mathis; Derek Vasquez, fr., Falfurrias
Infielder — Manny Flores, jr., Banquete; Max Lara, so., Tuloso-Midway; Daniel Lopez, sr., Odem; Jose Maldonado, sr., Falfurrias; Kayden McClure, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Julez Ortiz, jr., Premont; Caiden Salinas, jr., George West; Karson Santos, jr., Flour Bluff; Cameron Starry, jr., Banquete
Outfielder — Antonio Deleon, jr., Mathis; Erik Flores, so., Tuloso-Midway; Jax Garcia, so., Premont; Elijah Gonzalez, so., Banquete; Josh Jimenez, so., Banquete; Conner Sneed, sr., Flour Bluff; Cole Thompson, so., Woodsboro
Catcher — Jayden Paluseo, so., Flour Bluff; Brian Rivas, jr., Beeville
Utility — Brandon Buchanan, so., Bishop; Deven Beltran, sr., Banquete; Andrew Christian, sr., Premont; Joziah Gutierrez, fr., Mathis; Sef Gutierrez, fr., Riviera; Tyler Lang, fr., Beeville; EJ Montemayor, fr., Mathis; Conner Rhodes, jr., George West; Taggart Silvas, jr., Woodsboro
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Meet the 2023 Caller-Times All-South Texas Baseball Team
